Trash container assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a plurality of injection molded plastic panels having integrated connectors which are capable of being packaged and shipped in a knocked-down state and constructed to form an aesthetically pleasing trash container. The integrated connection of the side wall, cover and bottom panel components simplifies trash container construction. The panels are formed of injection molded plastic to interlock with one another without the need for separate metal fasteners or connectors. The system incorporates a minimum number of components by integrally forming the connectors into the injection molded panels which are snapped together to complete the assembly.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is relates to U.S. Ser. No. 10/628,636 entitled SecureTrash Container, the contents of which are incorporated herein in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to plastic containers, and morespecifically, to a plastic trash container assembly utilizing injectionmolded structural panels having integrally formed connectors. The trashcontainer assembly is capable of being packaged and shipped in aknocked-down state and assembled into a decorative trash containerwithout tools or additional fasteners.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Refuse or trash containers are a necessity for homeowners and businessowners alike. Trash containers are preferably positioned in convenientlocations for trash collection, which necessitates a decorative exteriorif placed in close proximity to employees at businesses or residents inhomes. A common form of trash container comprises a rigid one piece bodywhich forms an internal chamber with an access opening provided within arim at the upper end of the internal chamber. A lid is generallyconnectable with the rim to close the access opening. When the lid isremoved, trash is able to be thrown into and collected within the trashcontainer. Most modern trash containers also house a separate, removablewaste receiving receptacle such as a collapsible plastic bag or liner. Acommon form of trash liner is a flexible plastic bag which is held openby folding an upper edge of the bag over the lip of the containerfacilitating the ability to place trash into the bag. Once the bag isfilled, the top of the bag is tied closed and lifted out of thecontainer.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,300 discloses a rigid one-piece trashcontainer with a bag holding mechanism which firmly supports a flexiblewalled plastic liner in an open configuration within the container. Onedrawback associated with this type of container occurs when the filledliner engages the side walls of the container. This engagement oftencauses difficulty in removing the filled bags from the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,818 discloses a trash receptacle for receiving andholding a flexible, collapsible trash liner. More particularly, thetrash receptacle device provides a cavity formed in the lower portion ofthe trash receptacle for use as a foothold for assisting a user inremoving a full trash liner from the receptacle, and a handhold toassist the user in transporting the receptacle.

Typically, the aforementioned one-piece containers are large andincapable of being knocked-down for shipping and storage, addingadditional expense to the producer and thus the consumer. In an effortto reduce these problems, one piece containers generally include taperedside walls which allow them to be shipped in a nested arrangement.However, the nested containers are bulky and heavy, offering marginalgains to an end consumer.

In an attempt to overcome the shipping and storage problems associatedwith one-piece containers, containers capable of being shipped in abroken down condition have been provided. The top portion of thesecontainers is usually provided with one or more openings, sometimesclosed with a swinging door, through which the refuse may pass to bereceived by the waste receptacle within the container. The swingingdoors are generally provided with a weight, spring, or mechanicalmechanism which must be pushed open to place trash in the container.Because the top portion is securely attached to the container portion,these devices are generally constructed with access doors in their sideto facilitate removing a filled trash liner from the container portion.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,115 discloses a container for housing awaste receptacle. The device includes a base member formed by joiningtwo identical halves. Two interchangeable side walls are attached to thebase member and include extensions which form the top of the container.Interchangeable front and back walls are provided, the front wall beinghingedly attached and acting as a door. The front and back walls includea spring loaded door for providing access to the waste receptacle. If awaste receptacle in the form of a plastic bag is used, a frame isprovided. The frame is moveably mounted on tracks carried by the sidewalls of the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,222 discloses a pedal operated garbage containerwith improved access to the interior when the lid is opened. In thiscontainer, a platform for supporting waste is pivoted to the oppositeside walls at its forward edge, and a front wall extends upwardly fromthe forward edge of the platform. Operation of a pedal pivots theplatform upwardly and the front wall outwardly, providing access to theinterior. One or more waste receptacles are placed on the platform, andmust be lifted out for emptying as needed.

These types of containers suffer from numerous drawbacks for consumers.One such drawback relates to assembly of the container. These containersare often difficult to assemble, requiring tools and a substantialnumber of fasteners to align the panels and doors for proper operation.In addition, such containers may require internal linkages for operationof the lid.

Other advances in the art are aimed at making filled trash liners easierto remove from the receptacle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,080discloses a trash receptacle that opens on the side so that a filledliner need not be lifted out of the receptacle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,134 discloses a trash container formed with an openfronted housing having a pivotally mounted front wall movable between aclosed position and an open position to allow a filled liner to beremoved from the housing. A releasable locking device locks the frontwall into the closed position.

Typically, the structure of such devices are complex, requiring numeroussmall metal and/or plastic fasteners and connector members to maintain astructurally sound container. Due to the complexity of these devicesthey are generally only offered to consumers fully assembled and not ina knocked-down condition, and therefore require large shippingcontainers or crates, thereby increasing the final cost of the productto the consumer.

Such prior art devices, while working well, have not met all of theneeds of manufacturers to provide a product that can be easilymanufactured, packaged and shipped to the consumer in a knocked-downstate. Nor have they met the needs of consumers requiring structuralintegrity combined with a pleasing aesthetic appearance and ease ofassembly without the need for tools and small fasteners for assembly.

Paramount among such needs is a trash container panel system whichcreates a trash container having walls which resist panel separation,buckling, racking and weather infiltration. Structural integrity is afurther consideration; the container formed by the panels must tie intothe cover and bottom in such a way as to unify the entire enclosure.Also, from a safety standpoint, a cover should be present which can beeasily latched and which provides dependable pivoting access to thelineable container.

There are also commercial considerations that must be satisfied by anyviable trash container assembly; considerations which are not entirelysatisfied by state of the art products. The trash container must beformed of relatively few component parts that are inexpensive tomanufacture by conventional techniques. The trash container must also becapable of being packaged and shipped in a knocked-down state forassembly on a desired site.

Finally, there are ergonomic needs that a trash container assembly mustsatisfy in order to achieve acceptance by the end user. The trashcontainer must be easily and quickly assembled using minimal hardwareand requiring a minimal number or no tools. Further, the trash containermust not require excessive strength to assemble or include heavycomponent parts. Moreover, the trash container must assemble together insuch a way so as not to detract from the internal storage volume of theresulting trash container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a plurality of injection molded plasticpanels having integrated connectors which are capable of being packagedand shipped in a knocked-down state and constructed to form anaesthetically pleasing trash container. The integrated connection of theside wall, cover and bottom panel components simplifies trash containerconstruction. The panels are formed of injection molded plastic tointerlock with one another without the need for separate metal fastenersor connectors.

The system incorporates a minimum number of components by integrallyforming the connectors into the injection molded panels which aresnapped together without tools to complete the assembly. Thisconstruction eliminates the need for separate extruded or moldedconnectors or fasteners to assemble the trash container. Injectionmolding allows the panels to be formed with a single wall havingintegral cross-bracing, ribs and gussets for increased rigidity whencompared to blow molded or rotationally molded containers. The same sidewall and bottom panel components can be used to create a variety oftrash containers, and the assembly of the trash container requiresminimal hardware and a minimum number of hand tools. The bottom, frontand back wall panels have integrally formed outwardly projecting bossesfor interlocking cooperative engagement with the left and right sidewall panels. The left and right side wall panels are constructed withintegrally formed inwardly contoured sockets for interlockingcooperative engagement with the bosses on the edges of the base, frontand back side wall panels. The engagement between the bosses and thesockets serve to rigidly connect the components together into a weatherresistant trash container.

The system further includes a one-piece latching cover which is hingedlyconnected and latched into place after the front, back, side and bottompanels have been fully assembled. Each of the side panels include aremovably attached retainer-ramp. The retainer-ramps are constructed andarranged to cooperate with the side panels to support a conventionalplastic trash liner without the need for metal frames, arms orfasteners. In addition, the retainer-ramps permit the flexible liner tobe retained completely inside of the trash container in contrast withthe prior art which folds the liner over the rim of the container orover a metal frame to retain the liner in an open position. Still yet,the ramp portion of the retainer-ramps permit a filled liner to beeasily pulled upwardly through the container opening without snagging orcatching.

The lid panel is hingedly connected to removable and replaceable hingeinserts to provide an opening to place trash in the container. The lidis provided with a latch means constructed and arranged to allow the lidto be latched in a closed position to prevent wind or animals fromopening the container. The removable and replaceable hinge insertspermit interchangeability in the event that a hinge should becomedamaged.

In addition to the integrally formed bosses constructed to cooperatewith the side panels, the lower surface of the base panel includesintegrally formed bosses constructed and arranged to cooperate withcasters to allow easy movement of a loaded or unloaded trash container.The upper surface of the base panel includes a vent allowing filledtrash liners to be easily removed by eliminating the vacuum causedwithin a container when a filled liner engages the side walls.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide atrash container assembly having panels with integrated connectors.

A further objective is to provide a trash container having panels withintegrated connectors which accommodate injection molding plasticformation of the panel components for increased structural integrity.

Yet a further objective is to provide a trash container assembly inwhich the side walls, cover, and bottom panels are integrallyinterlocked without separate fasteners or connectors.

Another objective is to provide a trash container assembly constructedof modular panels having an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Yet another objective is to provide a trash container assembly that iscapable of being packaged and shipped in a knocked-down state andconstructed into a secure enclosure upon a desired site.

Yet another objective is to provide a trash container assembly thatincludes removable and replaceable hinge components.

Still yet another objective is to provide a trash container assemblythat retains a flexible liner completely inside of the container withoutrequiring separate frames or fasteners for improved aestheticappearance.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration andexample, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitutea part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trash container of the instantinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the trash container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the trash container embodiment shown inFIG. 1 with a liner in place and the cover panel in the open position;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the trash container embodiment shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 1-1 of the embodiment shown inFIG. 4 illustrating the cooperative engagement of the base, side, andcover panels;

FIG. 6 is a partial section view taken along line 2-2 of the embodimentshown in FIG. 5 illustrating the cooperative engagement of the coverlatch and the front panel;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the base panel utilized in the trashcontainer embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in variousforms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be describeda presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention andis not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsillustrated.

FIGS. 1-2 which are now referenced illustrate perspective and explodedviews of the trash container assembly, generally referenced as 10,according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The trashcontainer is made up of a base panel 100, left side wall panel 200,right side wall panel 300, back wall panel 400, front wall panel 500 andcover panel 600. In the preferred embodiment the panels comprising theassembly are formed of but not limited to a suitable plastic such aspolystyrene, polypropylene or polyethylene, through the process ofinjection molding. The result is that the panels comprising the trashcontainer 10 are formed as unitary single wall panels with integralconnectors and cross bracing. Strengthening ribs 202 and gussets 204 areformed within the inner surfaces of the wall panels, cover panel, andbase panel in order to enhance rigidity of the panels while leaving theexternal surface in a generally smooth condition for aesthetic purposes,as shown in FIG. 2. The base panel 100 has a top surface 104, bottomsurface 106 (FIG. 7), front edge 108, back edge 110, left edge 112, andright edge 114. Integrally formed along the left and right base paneledges is a plurality of bosses 116 for attaching the base panel to theleft 200 and right 300 wall panels. The bosses 116 extend outwardly fromeach edge to cooperate with sockets 210 extending inwardly along thebottom portions 206, 306 of the left and right wall panels respectively.The bosses 116 and sockets 210 are constructed and arranged so that thebosses 116 enter and mateably engage the sockets 210, securing thepanels together in an inter-fitting engagement and perpendiculararrangement. Detent or spring-lock fasteners, such as those illustratedat 118 cooperate with apertures 208, to secure the bosses 116 to thesockets 210. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that thespring-lock fasteners 118 can be used throughout the trash container 10to mount or secure components to one another, and to facilitate readyassembly of the trash container if it is provided in an unassembled orbroken-down condition. The overlapping boss 116 and socket 210arrangement increases the structural integrity of the trash container 10by preventing the panels 200, 300, 400, 500 from bowing or bendinginwardly or outwardly, and thus, adversely affecting the appearance oroperation of the trash container 10.

The left wall panel 200 is configured having a first edge 212 and asecond edge 214. Both edges 212, 214 include integrally formed elongatedand contoured sockets 210 extending inwardly in a linear fashion alongeach edge. The sockets 210 are generally constructed and arranged tocooperate with the bosses 116 provided along either edge of the backpanel 400 and front panel 500.

The right wall panel 300 is configured having a first edge 312 and asecond edge 314. Both edges 312, 314 include integrally formed elongatedand contoured sockets 210 extending inwardly in a linear fashion alongeach edge. The sockets 210 are generally constructed and arranged tocooperate with bosses 116 provided along either edge of the back panel400 and front panel 500.

The outer surface of the panels 200, 300, 400, 500 are constructedgenerally smooth having a plurality of inwardly bowed grooves 230 foradded strength and aesthetic appearance. The inside of the panels 200,300, 400, 500 are constructed with a plurality of strengthening ribs 202extending along the panels with a portion of the ribs 202 being providedwith a plurality of gussets 204 to further strengthen the panels. Theribs 202 and gussets 204 increase the structural integrity of the trashcontainer 10 by preventing the panels 200, 300, 400, 500 from bowing orbending inwardly or outwardly, and thus, adversely affecting theappearance or operation of the trash container 10. The integrally formedribs 202 and gussets 204 are facilitated by injection molding. Injectionmolding offers significant strength and stability advantages overblow-molding or rotational molding as utilized in the prior art. In thismanner the container of the instant invention is capable of handling asignificant amount of weight as compared to prior art plastic trashcontainers.

The left and right side panels 200, 300 are attached to the base panel100 by inserting the contoured bosses 116 into the sockets 210 until thespring tabs 118 engage the apertures 208 in the sockets 210 of the left200 and right 300 panels.

The front and back panels 400, 500 are attached to the left 200 andright 300 panels by inserting the elongated and contoured bosses 116into sockets 210 until the spring tabs 118 integrally formed into thecontoured bosses 116 engage the apertures 208 in the sockets of the leftand right panels 400, 500. It will be appreciated that the purpose ofthe contoured and elongated bosses 116 are to align two panels in aperpendicular relationship and to facilitate their mechanicalconnection. The perpendicular panels are brought into an overlappingrelationship wherein the contoured bosses 116 enter the correspondingsockets 210 in the left, and right panels 200, 300 respectively. Theresult is a mechanically secure connection between the panels. Theoverlapping edges between the panels as described above provides asecure connection and offers several advantages. First, the designallows the panels to be connected without the need for separateconnectors. Second, the design creates a positive lock that preventsseparation of the panels. Third, the design maintains alignment of thepanels in the same plane and prevents bowing or bending of either panelrelative to one another. The resultant trash container created by thecombination of the interlocking panels benefits from high structuralintegrity and reliable operation.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, perspective and section views of the trashcontainer are shown illustrating the pivotal operation of the coverpanel 600 and latch assembly. Also illustrated is the construction andarrangement of the separable and replaceable hinge assemblies. The hingeassemblies generally include a pair of hinge inserts 650 (FIG. 2), eachhaving a pair of hinge pins 652. The hinge pins are constructed andarranged to cooperate with a plurality of hinge pin receivers 602. Thehinge pin receivers 602 are generally a pair of outwardly dependingsupports 603 located adjacent to the back edge 610 of the cover panel600 and are constructed and arranged to cooperate with a hinge pin 652to allow pivotal movement of the cover panel 600 between an openposition illustrated in FIG. 3 and a closed position illustrated inFIG. 1. The hinge pins 652 are each integrally formed onto the upperportion of the hinge inserts 650. The hinge pins 652 cooperate withtheir respective hinge pin receivers 602 to allow pivotal movement ofthe cover panel 600 and also allow the cover 600 to be removed when inthe open position by lifting the cover upward and sliding the hinge pinreceiver 602 outward from the pins 652. The cover panel 600 isreleasably secured in the closed position by pivoting the cover paneldownward until the cover latch 622 pivotally mounted into the frontpanel 500 engages at least one corresponding indentation 620 formed inthe front portion of the cover panel 600. The result is a positivemechanical connection. To open the cover panel 600, the cover latch 622is pulled outward until the catch 624 is released from the indentation620 and the cover panel is pivoted upwards. The result is a positivemechanical connection between the side walls of the container and thecover panel 600 that resists opening by winds or animals, and yetprovides easy access for placing trash into the container.

It should be appreciated that the hinge assemblies allow the cover panel600 to be installed and/or removed when the cover 600 is in the openposition and yet the cover and lid are secure and non-removable when inthe closed position. It should also be appreciated that the hingeinserts are removable and replaceable in the event that one or bothshould become damaged.

Referring to FIGS. 2-6 the retainer-ramps 450 are illustrated. Theretainer-ramps include an upper portion 452 that is constructed andarranged to retain a flexible liner 700 in an open position within thetrash container and a lower portion 454 constructed and arranged topermit a filled liner to be easily removed from the trash containerwithout catching or snagging. The upper portion of the retainer-rampincludes a depending lip 456 over which the flexible liner may be foldedover for retention thereof. The lowermost portion of retainer-ramp isconstructed and arranged to fit against the inner surface of eachrespective panel and taper inwardly away from the inner surface as theretainer-ramp extends toward the container opening. In this manner theretainer-ramps function as a guide to aid in the removal of a filledliner from the container. The inner surface of the retainer-ramp 458includes an attachment means integrally formed thereto for attaching theretainer-ramp to the inner surface of the front, back, left and rightpanels. The attachment means is illustrated herein as a pair ofsnap-lock connectors 460. The snap-lock connectors each include an innerportion 462 and an outer portion 464; both portions are integrallyformed onto their respective panels. For assembly the inner portion ispressed into the outer portion until the components are engaged. Inaddition to the retainer-ramps the base panel is provided with a ventaperture 120 to aid in the removal of filled liners.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, the casters 120 and caster bosses 122 areillustrated. The casters 120 include a stem 124 that is constructed andarranged to cooperate with an aperture 126 integrally formed onto thelower surface 106 of the base panel 100. For assembly the stem isinserted into the boss aperture until retainer ring 128 snaps into acorresponding groove formed into the aperture, the result is amechanically secure connection. The casters may also include areleasable lock 130 to prevent the trash container from unwantedmovement on hills and the like.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification areindicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which theinvention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporatedby reference to the same extent as if each individual publication wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention isillustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangementherein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to whatis shown and described in the specification.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the presentinvention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain theends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. Theembodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein arepresently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended tobe exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changestherein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which areencompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by thescope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been describedin connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should beunderstood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited tosuch specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of thedescribed modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious tothose skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. An injection molded trash container assembly comprising: a base panelfor enclosing the bottom of said trash container; a left side panel forenclosing the left side of said trash container; a right side panel forenclosing the right side of said trash container; a back panel forenclosing the back of said trash container; a front panel for enclosingthe front of said trash container; a cover hingedly secured to at leastone of said left, right, front or back panels, said cover constructedand arranged to provide ingress into said trash container and facilitateremoval of trash from said trash container while in an open position,said cover constructed and arranged to cooperate with said left, right,back, and front panels in an overlapping fashion to enclose the top ofsaid trash container when in a closed position; wherein at least two ofsaid panels include a ramp-retainer removably secured to an innersurface thereof, said ramp-retainer including an upper portion and alower portion, said upper portion constructed and arranged to retain aflexible liner in an open position for easy insertion of refuse materialtherein, said lower portion constructed and arranged to permit removalof a filled liner from said container; whereby said base panel, saidleft side panel, said right side panel, said back panel, said frontpanel, and said cover panel are constructed and arranged forsnap-together assembly without additional fasteners, wherein said trashcontainer can be shipped in a disassembled state and assembled on adesired site.
 2. The trash container assembly of claim 1 wherein saidcover is hingedly secured to said back panel via a hinge assembly forpivotal movement between said closed and said open positions.
 3. Thetrash container assembly of claim 2 wherein said hinge assembly isconstructed and arranged to snap-together without additional fasteners;whereby a portion of said hinge assembly is constructed and arranged tocooperate with said back-panel and whereby a portion of said hingeassembly is constructed and arranged to cooperate with said cover panel.4. The trash container assembly of claim 3 wherein said hinge assemblyis removable and replaceable.
 5. The trash container assembly of claim 1wherein said base panel includes; a top surface constructed and arrangedto provide a rigid and stable generally flat surface; a bottom surfaceconstructed and arranged to provide rigidity and stability to said trashcontainer; a front closed edge and a rear closed edge; a left edge and aright edge each having at least one integrally formed boss arranged in alinear fashion and extending outwardly from said left and said rightedges, said at least one boss constructed and arranged to cooperate withat least one inwardly extending socket integrally formed into a lowerportion of said left and said right side panels for interlockingengagement therebetween.
 6. The trash container assembly of claim 5wherein each of said bosses includes at least one spring lock integrallyformed thereto, said at least one spring lock constructed and arrangedto cooperate with at least one aperture integrally formed into saidsockets, wherein said at least one spring lock engages at least one sidewall of said at least one aperture for interlocking engagementtherebetween.
 7. The trash container assembly of claim 5 wherein saidbottom surface of said base panel includes integrally formedcross-bracing; wherein said cross-bracing provides increased weightcapacity and stability to said trash container.
 8. The trash containerassembly of claim 7 wherein said bottom surface of said base panelincludes at least four integrally formed caster bosses, wherein each ofsaid caster bosses is constructed and arranged to cooperate with acaster for securement thereof without additional fasteners, whereby saidtrash container is moveably supported upon said casters.
 9. The trashcontainer assembly of claim 8 wherein at least one of said castersincludes a manually engageable lock, wherein said lock is constructedand arranged to prevent rotation of said caster while said lock is in anengaged position and allow free rotation of said caster in a disengagedposition.
 10. The trash container assembly of claim 5 wherein said leftside panel includes; a bottom portion including at least one integrallyformed socket constructed and arranged to cooperate with said base panelin an overlapping and interlocking manner; a top edge including anupwardly extending lip constructed and arranged to cooperate with saidcover panel in an underlying manner; a first edge having at least oneintegrally formed elongated socket for connection to said back panel ina perpendicular relationship; a second edge having at least oneintegrally formed elongated socket for connection to said front panel ina perpendicular relationship; an inner surface; and an outer surface.11. The trash container assembly of claim 10 wherein said at least oneelongated socket formed on said first edge is constructed and arrangedto interlockingly engage a corresponding at least one elongated bossformed into said rear panel resulting in a mechanically secureconnection therebetween and wherein said at least one elongated socketformed on said second edge is constructed and arranged to interlockinglyengage a corresponding at least one boss formed into said front panelresulting in a mechanically secure connection therebetween.
 12. Thetrash container assembly of claim 5 wherein said right side panelincludes; a bottom portion including at least one integrally formedsocket constructed and arranged to cooperate with said basepanel in anoverlapping and interlocking manner; a top edge including an upwardlyextending lip constructed and arranged to cooperate with said coverpanel in an underlying manner; a first edge having at least oneintegrally formed elongated socket for connection to said back panel ina perpendicular relationship; a second edge having at least oneintegrally formed elongated socket for connection to said front panel ina perpendicular relationship; an inner surface; and an outer surface.13. The trash container assembly of claim 12 wherein said at least oneelongated socket formed on said first edge is constructed and arrangedto interlockingly engage a corresponding at least one boss formed intosaid rear panel resulting in a mechanically secure connectiontherebetween and wherein said at least one elongated socket formed onsaid second edge is constructed and arranged to interlockingly engage acorresponding at least one boss formed into said front panel resultingin a mechanically secure connection therebetween.
 14. The trashcontainer assembly of claim 1 wherein said left, said right, said front,and said rear panels each include a ramp-retainer removably secured toan inner surface thereof, said ramp-retainer including an upper portionand a lower portion, said upper portion constructed and arranged toretain a flexible liner in an open position for easy insertion of refusematerial therein, said lower portion constructed and arranged to permitremoval of a filled liner from said container.
 15. The trash containerassembly of claim 14 wherein said ramp-retainer includes a generallyL-shaped cross-section, wherein the longer leg of said L-shapedcross-section is directed toward said lower portion of said panel andwherein the shorter leg of said L-shaped cross-section is directedtoward and spaced away from said inner surface of said panel; wherebysaid shorter leg of the L-shaped cross-section is constructed andarranged to retain said flexible liner in said open position and wherebysaid longer leg of said L-shaped cross section is positioned at an anglewith respect to said inner surface of said panel having a lowermostportion positioned juxtaposed to said inner surface to allow a filledliner to be easily removed from said trash container assembly.
 16. Thetrash container assembly of claim 1 wherein an upper portion of saidfront panel includes a cover latch, said cover latch constructed andarranged to cooperate with said cover panel to releasably retain saidcover panel in said closed position.
 17. The trash container assembly ofclaim 16 wherein said cover latch is pivotally mounted to said frontpanel, said cover latch including at least one latch member extendingoutwardly from said cover latch, said latch member constructed andarranged to cooperate with at least one corresponding indentation formedin the front portion of said cover panel for releasably securing saidcover.